Flag ban at BBQ contest stokes flames of controversy in Daphne

There are few things more associated with America than barbecue. So, when participants at the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour stop in Daphne were asked to not fly American flags, as expected, there was outrage.

One participant took to Facebook and called Daphne the “most un-American city.”

Mayor Dane Haygood said Monday morning that no one with the city told participants to take down flags and that the issue was caused by the event organizers’ misinterpretation of the city’s sign ordinance.

“I’ve confirmed with code enforcement and the police department that there was no interaction with the group before or during the event about signage,” Haygood said. “There is no ordinance against flying an American flag.”

Mike McCloud, national marketing director for the Kansas City Barbeque Society, which puts on Sam’s Club BBQ events nationwide, said during an event in Daphne two years ago, organizers were told by city officials of Daphne’s strict sign ordinance.

“There was a pretty clear policy from the city that no flags or signs could be displayed,” McCloud said.

Two years ago, McCloud said, no one participating in the event flew a flag and it wasn’t an issue.

He admitted that this year’s contest director had probably been “over cautious” in telling participants to not fly American flags while they were setting up in the parking lot of Sam’s Club on Friday. After hearing complaints from a few participants and after about 10 hours of discussion, McCloud said organizers allowed flags to be flown. Flags were in place by the time the competition officially kicked off Saturday.

“We were just trying to be cautious and respectful of local ordinances, like we always do when we come into a city,” he said. “In this situation there were unintended consequences.”

Haygood said flying an American flag in Daphne is encouraged. He pointed out that the city flies at least 100 temporary flags along U.S. Highway 98 and State Highway 181 and into old town Daphne, during at least five holidays per year.

City Councilman John Lake said the local Optimist Club also buys flags for any individual who would like to fly flags on their own property.

Business owner Kevin Spriggs, an outspoken opponent of the city’s sign ordinance, said he’d be surprised if the law was interpreted to restrict the flying of the nation’s flag.

“That’s got to be a misunderstanding,” he said. “I have to believe there was some sort of misinterpretation. The American flag is not a promotional tool.”

Spriggs did call the ordinance overly strict, especially when it comes to sign height along the Highway 98 corridor, near Interstate 10. The ordinance doesn’t allow for a sign taller than 14 feet, which Spriggs said is nearly useless when competing with large oak trees for the attention of motorists.

“That height is totally inadequate because you can’t see because of the trees,” he said.

In addition to Malbis Shell on State Highway 181, Spriggs owns Lake Forest Shell and the Eastern Shore Motel on U.S. Highway 98.

About The Author

Dale Liesch has been a reporter at Lagniappe since February 2014. He covers all aspects of the city of Mobile, including the mayor, city council, the Mobile Housing Board of Commissioners, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and others. He studied journalism at The University of Alabama and actually graduated in 2007.
He came to Lagniappe, after several years in the newspaper industry. He achieved the position of news editor at The Alexander City Outlook before moving to Virginia and then subsequently moving back a few years later. He has a number of Alabama and Virginia Press association awards to his name.
He grew up in the wilderness of Baldwin County, among several different varieties of animals including: dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, a horse and an angry goat. He now lives in Midtown Mobile with his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Joan. The family currently has no goats, angry or otherwise, but is ruled by the whims of two very energetic dogs.